Angry Scream Against Government Madness

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I've definitely featured the late (52 years old) Eddie Harris and Les McCann performing "Compared To What?" several times before. It is the thinking person's angry, frustrated scream against a government gone wild in a country which seems to have lost its way, forgotten The Constitution and completely forgotten about the wishes and hopes of its Founding Fathers.

In "Tryin' To Make it Real Compared To What?" Harris and McCann render a live performance that gets everyone's heart racing -- it is pure, unadulterated soul played with funky sponteneity. The dynamics and other live, in-concert effects will turn you on and make you angry, too. But it's so worthwhile. While your temperature rises, you will be grabbed by the urge to get up and dance. Listen to the lyrics as they ring clear and true. And listen to McCann's voice. He means it. He is the caged bird, screaming soulfully.

Al Jarreau's version follows. He isn't as fully spontaneous and funky, and he gives a slickly-polished performance, with some of his signature scatting, vocalese and new instruments created by his stunning voice. I particularly like this version (although not quite as much as the original) because of its upbeat tempo and wild sax riffs. You'll enjoy the ride.

I want to dedicate this article, and these songs with love to three wonderful friends, and exemplary Human Beings, each with amazing talents and Old-School integrity: Lidia Szczepanowski, Fran Petito and Paul Parsons. My message to them, aside from thanks for making my life so much richer? It's simple -- when we heal each other, we heal ourselves.

United We Stand!

Uncle Dazz for The RadioDAZZ Blog

Please follow us on Twitter: @RadioDAZZ and @DAZZRadio

EDDIE AND LES

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzvlivbptXk


AL JARREAU

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNo4pe55_8





Terms, Labels Tags, Keywords, And Special Search Terms For This Article:
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Scoop.it

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Bungle In The Jungle - Jethro Tull

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Click On Henri Rousseau's Fabulous Painting, Above

I hadn't been a Jethro Tull fan back in my undergraduate years of studying nocturnal anatomy and occasionally Economics, which was my major [I actually made it to the Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Society for International Academic Achievement In The Field Of Economics! They'd probably let their guard down...] . I was more interested in conventional Top 40 and falling into the wondrous web of soul, funk and Motown.

Needless to say, when the song "Bungle In The Jungle" came out, it was such a raucous departure from their typical, introverted medieval-inspired flute and lyre madrigal material (think about "Thick As A Brick," for example, which bored the guts out of me, as opposed to "Brick House," one of Lionel Richie's later efforts which had true soul pulse running through it and partly catalyzed my conversion to The RadioDAZZ guy -- a living one-person/ multiple personalities study in racial and ethnic diversity and confused confunktion.

I was listening to Eddie Harris, Wilson Pickett, The Gap Band, The Brothers Johnson, The Isleys and some of the incredible harmonies and beats of The Four Tops and The Temptations -- I was leaning toward the darker side of the Top 40, but I left a great space in my heart for some jazz/rock/brass groups... Tower Of Power; Chase; Ten Wheel Drive; Blood, Sweat And Tears; and Chicago. I loved the fiery sound of brass and the emphasis that all of these 'big band groups" were putting on electric bass riffs.

But this one purely white (but it's alright!) song (even more than "Teacher" or "Aqualung") had an uncharacteristically progressive, humorous, hidden funkiness that I found as humorous (thematically) as I found captivating.

It is a bit sneaky, with great dynamics and a bright (key of G Major) bridge. Click, listen and enjoy a smile:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJhAyg2LTEk




Thank you for listening to RadioDAZZ - "Great Music Is Always Great" - DC

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Compared To What?! - Al Jarreau Jams - Like WOW!

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Originally performed by Les McCann and Eddie Harris [who have never, ever been beat -- their take on this song is the total knockout], this furious tune ("Tryin' To Make It Real Compared To What?") is the ultimate malcontent's song of disgust with the Human Condition for every age, and every era.  Same stuff, different day. The more things change...  The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer... you feel me?

This song is filled with anger, passion, cynicism and politically incorrect honesty. It is a frustrated man's crying plea for reason and purpose in this shallow, pretentious, corrupt sham of a life that we're brought into from the moment we're spat out of the womb. Al Jarreau all but explodes on stage with the sounds of a music store filled with crazy, hybrid instruments. The man works magic with his voice. Some of his other better-known hits ("Roof Garden," "Moonlighting," "Teach Me Tonight," [beautiful, mellow version of an old standard] and one of my favorite love songs, the tender "After All") have garnered a great deal more attention.

But this song demonstrates his amazing range of vocal abilities, and wild imagination... some vocal, some vocalese, some pure, raw sawtooth squealing synth -- all from the same flesh and blood Human throat. And RadioDAZZ Makes It Real, And Keeps It Real for his guests. You've just got to click on the link and experience this


(TRYIN' TO MAKE IT REAL) COMPARED TO WHAT?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zNo4pe55_8  - Insane, Live In Concert, Fabulously Melodic And Funky Jam.




As always, friends, follows and music lovers, thank you for spending some quality time with Uncle DAZZ and his ever-expanding collection of tunes that take you away. Thanks for the kind words, the retweets and social media re-postings, and the occasional public restroom graffiti (I consider it advertising, so I'm grateful).

RadioDAZZ Makes It Real And Keeps It Real. For You.

The RadioDAZZ guy.

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